Fruit-packer&#39;s table.



F. RATHBUN.

FRUIT PAGKERS TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.21, 1910.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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OFFICE FRANK RATHBUN, 0F OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON.

FRUIT-PACICERS TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.v

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Application filed April 21, 1910. VSerial No. 556,665.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK RATHBUN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Olympia, in the county of Thurston and State of Washington, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Packers Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in fruit packers tables, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive table of the character specified, for simultaneously grading and packing fruit, of various kinds at one operation.

Referring' to the drawings forming a art hereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view ot the improvement, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage, Fig. 3 is a similar view of the end of the cull spout, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the guide rollers for the carriage, Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of the track, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a portion of the same.

As is known, some species of fruit do not grade well in machines, when the work is done automatically. This may be owing to defects in shape or to the inherent qualities of the fruit. As for instance, apples may be, while of proper size, too Hat, pears and lemons are too long, and peaches are too tender. It is a fact that the-fruit should be subjected to the least possible amount of handling before use, otherwise it is dilicult to preserve.

The design of the present device is to dispense with the use of a grading or sizing machine, and to provide means by which the two operations of grading and packing may be combined, thus dispensing with one handling of the fruit, and avoiding the ditliculties arising from unsuitable shape or constitution.

The embodiment of the invention comprises a frame consisting of uprights 1 arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being connected at their upper and lower ends by cross bars 2, and the corresponding uprights of each pair are connected at their bottoms by longitudinal bars 3 and 3, arranged with their widest dimensions vertical, and at their top by longitudinal 'bars 4, arranged with their widest dimensions horizontal. The bars 4 are arranged between the upper ends of the uprights, and

are mortised into the uprights as at 5, and are braced by cross strips 6 secured to the uprights, and upon which the ends of the bars rest. A plate 7 is supported on the bars 4, forming a table, is arranged on the upper face of the plate at each end.

At spaced intervals cross bars 9 are secured transversely of the plate, each bar being substantially tee shaped in cross and arranged with its widest face downward, or the bars may bev considered as being provided each with a central longitudinal rib 10. The longitudinal bar 3 is mortised into the uprights as at 11, and inclined position, t-he upper edge 12 extending beyond the face of the uprights. The said bar is also provided witha longitudinal rib 13 on its upper edge, which forms a guide and a track for a pair of grooved wheels 14, arranged tandem, each being journaled on a pin 15 which connects the lower ends of a pair of plates 16 on the carriage to be described.

The carria e as shown in Fi. 2 is com-H posed of a pair of parallel bars 17 connected at one end by a cross bar 18, and at the other by a triangular plate 19. A vertical bar 20 and 20EL is secured to each of the bars 17 near the cross bar 18, both bars below the bar 17, and the bar 20, also eX- tends above the bar 17 to which it is attached. A plate 21 (Fig. 3) is arranged in inclined position, one edge being secured to one of the bars 17, and the opposite edge to a bar 22, which connects the upper end of the bar 20 with the triangular plate 19. Inclined bars 23 and 24 extend from the ends of the bar 17 and 22 respectively adjacent to the triangular plate, the lower ends of the vertical bar 20, 20a, and the plates before mentioned are secured to the connected lower ends of the said bars 20a-23 and 20-24. The pairs of bars 20a-23 and 20-24 form depending brackets for the carriage and the wheels as before stated run on the rib 13, and the carriage is held in substantially upright position by means of rollers 25, and'journaled on the heads 27 of pins 26, extending upwardly from the ends of the bars 17 adjacent to the cross bar 18. The rollers engage the inner face of the longitudinal bar 4 Fig. 4) and are limited in their inward movement by a guide bar 28 on the under and a cross strip 84 is arranged in an depending to a connection with face of the table. Each of the pins 26 extends through the connection of the bars 1.7 and 18, 'and is engaged by a nut 29 below the bar 18 to hold the pin in place.

The upper face of the rib 13 on the rail 3 is provided with a layer 30 of reinforcing material, and the inner face of the bar 4 is provided with a layer 31 of similar material. The strips or cross bars S and 9 form supports for the boxes of fruit, the edges of the boxes resting on the strips, and the boxes are separated by the ribs 10. The plate shown is designed to receive ten boxes, two boxes being placed in a transverse row, five rows being provided for. It will be evident however that the size of the table might be increased or decreased in length to accommodate a greater or less number, but it would not be advisable to increase the width, on account of the increase in reach for the operator.

A pair of brackets 32 is arranged at the front of the carriage being secured to the triangular plate 19, and the said bracket forms a support for the box 33 holding packing paper. The brackets 32 are formed of angle bars connected by a brace 41, the paper box resting on the horizontal portion of the angle bars, and the vertical portions slide in guideways 4Q on the triangular plate to permit the box to be raised or lowered, to suitthe convenience of the operator, and the packing box 43 for the fruit is supported on the plate 21 of the carriage.

A cull box 34 is placed below the table inside the frame work, and a hopper' 35 is supported by a yoke 36 at one side of the carriage, the arms 37 of the yoke being secured to the adjacent bar 17, and to the bar 22 by staples 38. The spout 39 of the hopper extends to a posit-ion above the cull box, and the longitudinal bar 3il is arranged high enough to permit the cull box to be drawn out or replaced. The box is also provided with a handle 40 which is curved transversely and arranged with its convex face upwardly to prevent injury to fruit striking against the same. rfhe end of the spout of the cull box is formed of rigid material and is in trough shape as shown at 44, Figs. 2 and 3, and a shield 45 is supported transversely of the end of the trough, but spaced apart thereupon, by means of arms 4G ex tendinff from the trough, and having bearings 4? for receiving journal pins 48 on the shield. Springs 48a are provided for normally holding the shield in vertical position. Then a cull is dropped into the hopper, it rolls down the spout, strikes the shield, and is deflected into the cull box without receiving any injury from striking corners or the like on the frame. The shield may swing, thus checking the movement of the fruit in a yielding manner.

In operation, the table is lled with boxes essaieof fruit, and the front row is kept supplied with filled boxes, which are continually added at the rear, and drawn forwardly by the operator as he or she empties the boxes in front and removes them. The strips or bars act as guides for the boxes in this sliding movement. A packing box is placed on the carriage, and the operator moves the carriage from box to box, choosing the size suitable for the box being packed. As soon as the box is iilled, it is removed and another placed on the carriage. lVhen a cull is found it is dropped into the hopper.

lt will be evident that only one handling of the fruit is necessary for the (usually) two operations of grading and packing.

The table is supported at its center by an X-shaped brace 49 resting at its lower end on a cross bar 50 and at its upper end engaging blocks 51 secured to the under face of the table, and each having on its lower face an offset portion 52, forming a shoulder 53, which is engaged by a similarly shaped shoulder on the adjacent member of the brace. An upright 54 is .arranged at the rear of the table adjacent to the brace, and the brace is so constructed to permit the carriage to move freely thereby.

In Fig. 5 is shown a portion of the rib 13, the said rib having a pair of gates 56 and 57, spaced apart to register with the wheels 14 of the carriage, and hinged at 5S to the rail to open inward, to permit the wheels to be disengaged from the rib, when it is necessary to remove the carriage. Each gate has its free edge beveled at 59 to engage a similarly beveled surface on the rib, and the gates are held closed by gravity, on acy count of the inclined position of the rail.

I claim:

1. A device of the character specified, comprising a table for holding fruit boxes and having transverse guides, a track on the front of the table, a carriage having de-A pending brackets, wheels on the brackets running on the track, rollers at the rear of the carriage, a track beneath the table for engagement by the rollers, said carriage having a top inclining downwardly toward the rear for supporting a packing box, brackets at the front of the carriage for supporting a box of packing paper, a hopper at one end of the carriage, and a spout extending from the hopper to a point beneath the table.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a table having a plurality of transverse guideways for fruit boxes, a carriage for supporting a packing box, a hopper on the carriage, a spout extending from the hopper beneath the table, a track on the table, wheels depending from the carriage for engaging the track, rollers on the rear of the carriage, and a rail for engagement by the rollers.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a table having a plurality of transverse guideWays for fruit boxes, a carriage movable longitudinally of the table, means on the table for supporting and guiding the carriage, a hopper on the carriage, and a spout extending from the hopper beneath the table.

4. In a device of the character specified, a table for holding fruit boxes, a carriage movable longitudinally of the table for holding a packing box, means on the table for supporting and guiding the carriage, a hopper on the carriage, and a spout extending from the hopper beneath the table.

5. In a device of the character specified, a table for holding fruit boxes, a carriage movable longitudinally of the table forA holding a packing box, means on the table for supporting and guiding the carriage, and means on the carriage for receiving the culls and carrying them beneath the table.

6. In a device of the character specied, a table, a carriage movable longitudinally thereof, a hopper for culls on the carriage, a spout extending from the hopper beneath the table, and a shield suspended in front of the opening of the spout and spaced apart therefrom.

7. In a device of the character specified,

a table for holding fruit boxes, a carriage movable longitudinally of the table for holding a packing box, a rail arranged longitudinally of the table, grooved Wheels journaled on the carriage and engaging the rail, said carriage having arms extending laterally beneath the top of the table, rollers on the arms, said table top having a guidevvay for engagement bythe rollers, the rail having a removable section for permitting disengagement of the Wheels therefrom to remove the carriage.

8. In a device of the character specified, a table, a carriage movable longitudinally thereof, a rail arranged longitudinally of the table, grooved Wheels journaled on the carriage and engaging the rail, and means for preventing upward movement of the carriage, said rail having a removable portion for the purpose specified.

9. In a device of the character specied, a table, a carriage movable thereon, a hogper for culls on the carriage, a spout exten ing from the hopper, and a shield suspended in front of the opening of the spout and spaced apart therefrom.

FRANK RATHBUN. Witnesses:

GHAs. A. BURR, LEWIS J. MORRISON. 

